Virtual reality, smart tech and drones are coming to your local toy store

NEW YORK — Soon a visit to the local toy store will feel like you've been transported to Silicon Valley.

Selfie drones, virtual reality headsets and simulated art farms are just a few of the most-buzzed-about "toys" getting a big push at the 2016 Toy Fair in New York City this week. Wireless connectivity, integration with the "Internet of Things" and voice activation are some of the most innovative features.

If that sounds like the recap of a tech keynote rather than a toy preview, you're dead on. One of the most recognizable toys to get a high-tech upgraded is the new Cabbage Patch Kids doll. Barbie's dreamhouse got a makeover, too; it's Wi-Fi enabled, connects with an app and features voice-recognition software so kids can talk directly to the toy house. Oh, and Barbie has a drone now, too.

Not to mention there's a new cashless Monopoly game that requires players to swipe a toy credit card; the battery-operated ATM will keep track of all of the money, so it will be much harder for people to cheat.

This is the not the playroom of your childhood. These toys are on another level.

Opportunities and challenges

It's common for the toy industry to closely follow the latest trends of the adult world; after all, kids want what their parents have, whether it's a car or a tablet. But with drones and "smart" gadgets, grown-up concerns over safety and privacy are even more of a focus. And of course there's the experience: A watered-down toy version of a tech product might just as soon dissuade kids from the real thing rather than build up interest.

For example, let's take VR headsets. Advanced systems are launching this year from companies such as Oculus ($600), and the Samsung Gear VR headset is available available for $99. But big companies like Fisher-Price and Google are enticing kids to try out virtual reality with much cheaper kid-friendly headsets. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the original Ant Farm, toy company Uncle Milton is giving kids an immersive view of underground ant tunnels with its Virtual Explorer goggles, which cost between $34.99 and $49.99 depending on the model.

Putting aside the issue that the VR goggles require and iPhone or Android device, it's questionable a "VR lite" experience will inspire kids to dive deeper into virtual reality — not to mention the concern that cheap, poor VR experiences can sometimes leave the user feeling nauseated.

Barbie is a modern woman with a modern smart home.

Image: Mashable, Brittany Herbert

Drones are another hot but controversial topic. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — which is still trying to regulate drone use — will require toy versions of these unmanned aircrafts be registered if they weigh over 0.5 pounds (which most do). There's concern around safety, too; drone propellers alone are enough to give parents a good bit of anxiety. But most of what was shown at Toy Fair came with protection on the outside of the blades so users (mostly) won't have to worry about injuries or slashing up the wallpaper. At the same time, there's a lot of promise for kid-friendly drones in the year ahead.

"Drones are not just about flying anymore. They've gone a step further by letting users take selfies or participate in gameplay," Adrienne Appell of the Toy Association said. "As technology becomes less expensive, the price points are more affordable for what you're getting — some can dip as low as $30. A few years ago, it would have been much pricier with [fewer] bells and whistles."

But the red flags continue, especially when it comes to voice-activated software and web connectivity. Let's recall the nightmare security breach VTech faced last year that affected 5 million customer accounts, 200,000 of which were linked to children. VTech's Kid Connect platform, which allows parents and kids to communicate, had been compromised and gave hackers access to kids' photos and chat logs.

"Every industry is having issues with security, but when you're dealing with education and minors, the privacy and security processes need to be thoughtful and reflective," Jessy Irwin, security evangelist at 1Password, told Mashable's Christina Warren at the time. "While kids' data may not have a high monetary value, we have seen tons of criminal groups go on land grabs for their blank identities and use it for their own gain."

And then there was Hello Barbie — announced at Toy Fair 2015 — which came with Siri-like capabilities that enabled kids to have actual conversations with the doll. But it came under fire after security researchers warned the public the toy could be used as a surveillance device by hackers to spy on children.

With the debut of Barbie's smart home dreamhouse this year, the same issues are on the table: Could hackers potentially gain access to the voice data used to converse with the set and learn, say, what time the child gets home from school? As a result of all these incursions — real and potential — toy makers will feel greater pressure in the year ahead to roll out encrypted, secure products, as they continue to produce more technologically advanced products.

"Security is typically an afterthought in the adult world of computing, but it shouldn't be with kids," Irwin said.

While toy innovation is booming — and continues to mirror what's coming out of Silicon Valley — it also faces many real-world concerns that come with technology today.

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